“Gifts from the Gulf” continues…

I returned to the Conference Room, took leave of the Chair and rushed to CBI Headquarters.

The Director was in a meeting with senior officers in CBI’s Conference Hall but I decided to walk in. I conveyed the news of Aftab’s arrest in Dubai whispering into his ears. He asked me to wait until he wound up the meeting. After hearing details of my conversation with KC Singh he spoke to the Ambassador himself. Thereafter, I was directed to leave for Dubai post haste.

The Indian Airlines flight to Dubai leaving Delhi in the evening was full. Nonetheless, I went to the airport to take my chances. At the Airlines counter I was informed again that finding a seat on the flight was out of the question as there were no cancellations. I had to throw the weight of a senior CBI officer on a special mission with the Airlines authorities and told them that I had to proceed to Dubai, even if it meant travelling in the cockpit! Somehow, they put me on the plane and I was on my way.

The following morning, I met with senior Dubai officials at our Ambassador’s office. They wanted evidence from me to confirm the identity of the man who was in their custody that he was indeed Aftab Ansari. I handed over a dossier prepared by the Delhi Police with Aftab’s fingerprints. Aftab’s passport file obtained from Patna with his thumb impression was also given. The Dubai officers asked our Ambassador and me to wait until the process of confirming his identity was completed and further orders from their higher ups received.

To be continued…